Karuturi Global invested in the booming horticultural industry near Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley, where they grow a significant quantity of the 600 million roses that the company sells annually.

"Despite this situation, the management is yet to show concern or institute any measures towards addressing the issue," Atwoli wrote in a letter dated October 5 urging that the government take action. "The minister for labour and his team are empowered by the Labour Act to arrest and prosecute such rogue employees.”

A secondary school on the farm was forced to shut down because of lack of money. "We have decided to take a break until our grievances are addressed as we cannot teach on empty stomachs," one teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AllAfrica.com.

Karuturi disputed this allegation. "In regards to the claims of unpaid salaries, we wish to inform you that Karuturi has always been ready and willing to settle any salaries," the company told the website in a statement.

"Companies like Karuturi are haemorrhaging Africa," said Dr Attiya Waris, a senior lecturer in tax law at the University of Nairobi and vice-chair of the Tax Justice Network, at the time. "Transfer mispricing is robbing Kenyan workers and citizens of access to good public education, health care, transport services and a clean environment, which our government can only provide through proper revenues."

Kenya is not the only country in which Karuturi has been accused of taking advantage of local farmers.

In addition to the human rights issues, Karuturi’s Ethiopian operations were hit by major flooding in 2011, which caused it to lose most of its crops, which led to investors dumping shares in the company.